Stoke City secured a crucial 3-1 win against Queens Park Rangers (QPR) at the Bet365 Stadium on March 29, 2025. The victory marks Stoke’s second consecutive home win and provides them with valuable breathing room in their battle to avoid relegation from the Championship.
QPR, meanwhile, continue to struggle with injuries and form as they suffered their fifth defeat in six matches.
Match details and attendance
The Championship clash between Stoke City and QPR drew a crowd of 23,192 spectators to the Bet365 Stadium. Home fans were treated to an impressive performance from their side, who controlled much of the game and capitalized on their opportunities. The victory increases the gap between Stoke and the relegation zone to four points—a significant buffer at this stage of the season.
QPR arrived with a depleted squad due to injuries, which ultimately proved costly as they struggled to match Stoke’s intensity throughout the match.
First half action
The visitors actually created the first meaningful opportunity of the game. QPR goalkeeper Paul Nardi’s long kick found Kader Dembele in a promising position, but the forward could only manage a tame effort straight at Stoke keeper Viktor Johansson.
This early warning seemed to spark Stoke into life. In the 18th minute, Million Manhoef came agonizingly close to opening the scoring when his deflected cross struck the crossbar with Nardi beaten.
The breakthrough came just three minutes later. Bae Jun-ho found the net in the 21st minute to give the home side a deserved lead. Stoke continued to press and doubled their advantage just before halftime when Junior Tchamadeu scored in the 44th minute, sending the home supporters into celebrations as the teams headed for the break.
Second half domination
Stoke City picked up where they left off after the interval and effectively sealed the points in the 54th minute. Million Manhoef, who had been threatening throughout, finally got his reward wiht Stoke’s third goal of the afternoon.
The three-goal cusahion allowed the home side to control the tempo of the game, though QPR did manage to find a consolation goal through M Yang in the 78th minute. This brief moment of joy for the traveling supporters did little to change the outcome of the match.
Implications for both teams
The result has significant implications for both sides as the Championship season progresses:
- Stoke City now sit four points clear of the relegation zone
- This was Stoke’s second consecutive home victory
- QPR have lost five of their last six matches
- The London side continues to struggle with an injury-depleted squad
For Stoke manager and players, this victory provides much-needed confidence as they look to secure their Championship status for another season. The three-goal performance also suggests their attacking capabilities are improving at a crucial time.
QPR, conversely, need to find solutions quickly to arrest their slide and ensure they don’t get dragged into relegation trouble themselves. The return of key injured players will be essential if they hope to improve their fortunes in the remaining fixtures of the season.